Mop



March 16, 1937. J. D. BATES 2,073,726

' MOP Filed Sept. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 16, 1937. J, D, BATE2,073,726

MOP

Filed Sept. 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 memes 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to mops and, more particularly, to a roller mophaving wringer means carried thereby.

It is proposed by the present invention to pro' vide a roller mop whichmay be rolled freely in one direction to spread water or other cleaningfluid upon a surface to be cleaned, and which will be held from rotationwhen moved in the opposite direction in order to wipe the surface overwhich the cleaning fluid has been spread. In carrying out the invention,I provide a mop roller having a cylindrical layer of mopping materialthereon, and associated with which is a one-way braking or lockingdevice which insures that the mop roller will rotate in only onedirection.

The invention also includes the provision of means for wringing orsqueezing the mopping material which is carried by the mop roller.According to the invention such means comprise a wringer roller which isso mounted with respect to the mop roller that it may be moved about theentire circumference of the mop roller in wringing or squeezingengagement with the mopping material thereon. Means are also provided bythe invention for locking the wringer roller in squeezing engagementwith the mopping material on the mop roller.

By means of the present invention it will be seen that the moppingmaterial-on the mop roller may be squeezed dry of any cleaning fluidtherein by locking the wringer roller in squeezing engagement with themopping material and then moving successive portions of such materialinto engagement with the wringer roller. In this operation the one-waybrake operates to permit r0- tation of the mop roller to bringsuccessive portions of the mopping material into engagement with thewringer roller, and subsequently permitting free return of the mop.roller frame to such a position as to permit another portion of themopping material to be moved under the wringer roller.

In addition to the objects and general features of. operation andconstruction set forth, it is an object of the invention to provide amop device which will be light in weight and strong in construction, butwhich will be of such simple construction that it may be easily andcheaply manufactured and quickly assembled.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing description and. the drawings, it being expressly understood,however, that the invention is in no way limited by such description anddrawings or otherwise than by the appended claims. v

the wringer roller about to be moved to wringing position;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the mop device showing the wringer roller andframe in wringing, position;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the mop device showing the wringer roller andframe about to be moved to inoperative position; and

Fig. 6 is an explodedview showing parts of the mop device.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that ahollow cylindrical mopping element l is provided, the same being formedof any suitable material, although sponge rubber .is believed to bepreferable. The mop member I is sleeved about -and carried by, acylindrical roller member 2 which is rotatably mounted in the ends ofthe arms 3, 4 of a U- shaped frame 5 by means of the pins 6, althoughany suitable supporting means other than such pins may be employed.Attached in any suitable manner to the central portion ,of the U-shapedframe 5 is a socket member I having a generally cylindrical form andinto which the end of an operating handle 8 may be received. The socketmember I is longitudinally split as at 9 in Fig. 1 and ears l0,integrally formed with cylinder 1, are disposed at each side of thesplit. Aligned screw-threaded holes are formed in the ears and a screw Il is threaded into the same for drawing the ears together to tighten thesocket I on the end of handle 8, although it will be obvious that anyother suitable means may be employed for this purpose. Formed integrallywith each of the ears Ill on the lower sides thereof are depending lugsI2 which provide latching means for a purpose to be explained fullyhereinafter,

Means are provided by the present invention .for permitting freerotation of the roller 2 and mop lwhen the mop device is moved in onedirection, and for causing these elements to be -lar,outwardly-extending flange l5. Disposed within the open-sided drumformed by the plate I3 and flange I5 is a one-way braking device or stopmember I6 which is eccentrically pivoted to the arm 4 of frame 5 by apin I1, all as clearly 5 disclosed in Fig. 6. It will be noted that thepin I1 is disposed rearwardly of the radial center line of the brakedevice I5. The stop member I5 is formed with an inner wall I 8 which isclosely adjacent the bearing pin 5 but does not touch the 10 same, whilethe outer wall I9 of the stop member is formed on an arc closelyparalleling the inner face of flange I5 and is disposed in very closeproximity thereto. The forward portion of the circumferential face ofouter wall I9 is provided with a series of teeth 20, the same beinginclined forwardly, or in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 2, whilethe greater remaining length of this face is smooth, as at 2I. A bore orsocket 22 is provided in the braking member I6 and extends from the faceI8 in a radial direction through the approximate radial center line ofthe clutch member, terminating intermediate the faces I8 and I9. Acoiled compression spring 23 is disposed within the bore 22 and bears atone 5 end against the bottom of the bore and at its other end againstthe pin or shaft 5. It will be apparent that spring 23 constantly urgesthe braking member I6 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I1,thereby urging the teeth 20 0 into engagement with the flange I5. Itwill be understoodthat the spring 23 is very light and exerts only aslight force on the cam or clutch member I5.

Means are provided by the invention for wringing the water out of themop member I when it is desired to do so. Such means comprise asecondary or auxiliary frame 24, the same being U-shaped in constructionand comprising the parallel leg members 25, 25 and the connecting piece21. The ends of the parallel leg members 25, 25 are rotatably journaledon the pins or shaft 6, preferably externally of the legs 3, 4 of thehandle-supporting frame. The connecting member 21 of frame 24 is formedof resilient material whereby the central portion thereof may be sprungdownwardly to allow the same to pass the lugs I2 on ears I0. By thismeans it will be apparent that frame 24 may be latched in inoperativeposition behind lug I2, and may be released from such position by merelyspringing the connecting member 21 from behind such lug. Referring tothe drawings, it will be seen thatleg 25 is provided with anintegrally-formed offset portion 21 which extends from leg 25 in such away that the extremity thereof overlies the leg 4 when leg 25 is ininoperative or latched position. Formed in the leg 25 and in the offsetportion 21 is a slot 28, the longitudinal length of which is at ananglev to the leg 25 and extends from the approximate center line of theleg 25 toward the leg 4. The slot 28 terminates at one end in the offsetportion 21 and said end overlies the edge of mop element I when theframe 24 is in latched position. This end of the slot 28 is providedwith an upwardly-extending recess 3I, as disclosed clearly in thedrawings. An exactly similar construction is provided on leg 25 of frame24 and will not be described further in detail.

Disposed between the legs 25, 25 is a wringer roller 32, the same beingprovided at its ends with pins 33 which ride in the above-describedslots in the leg members 25, 26. The length of wringer roller 32 is suchthat it snugly but freely fits between the legs 25, 26 and when in suchposition the end portions of the periphery of the wringer roller abutthe edges of legs 4, 5. The diameter of the roller is such, and thelength and dispositionof the slots 23 are so arranged, that when theframe 24 is in its latched or inoperative position, as in Figs. 1 and 2,the legs 4, 5 will abut the extremities of roller 32 and force the pins33 to the rearward ends of slots 25 and thereby rigidly maintain theroller 32 in such a position that the periphery thereof will be justbarely out of contact with the mop element I.,

thus providing a rigid inoperative position for the wringer roller whenthe same is not in use.

In the operation of the above-described structure, if it is desired tomop or clean any type of surface, the wringer frame 24 is first placedin its inoperative position by engaging the cross member 21 behind thelugs I2 on ears I0, thereby disposing the wringer roller 32 out ofcontact with the mop element I, with the pins 33, 34 held in the end ofslots 28 by the pressure of legs 3, 4 on the peripheral ends of roller32, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The mop maynow be manipulated over the surface to be cleaned by means of the handle8. It will be observed that when the mop is moved in a forwarddirection, as in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 2, the clockwiserotation of roller 2 and flange I5 will exert such a force on the outerperipheral face of the clutch member I5 as tocause thesame to move avery slight distance in a clockwise direction about pin I1, therebyslightly compressing spring 23 and moving the teeth 20 on braking memberI5 out of engagement with the flange I5. The teeth 20 having been movedout of engagement with flange I5 it will be apparent that the roller 2and mop element I will be free to rotate in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig 2, as long as the mop is moved forwardly, as shown by thearrow A in Fig. 2. In this way, water with which the mop element I hasbeen saturated, may be spread freely on the surface to be cleaned.

If it is'now desired to cause a wiping or scrubbing effect on thesurface to be cleaned the mop may be moved rearwardly over such surface,i. e., in a direction opposite to that of the arrow A of Fig. 2. Whensuch rearward movement is initiated, it will be apparent that theclockwise force exerted by flange I5 on the outer peripheral edge ofbraking member I5 will be relieved and the spring I8 will therefore movethe member I6 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I1, wherebythe teeth 20 on member I6 will be moved into engagement with the innerperiphery of flange I5. As soon as such engagement occurs, any furtherforce tending to move flange I5 in a counterclockwise direction willcause the teeth 20 to tightly grip the flange and, due to the eccentricmounting of the member I6 on pin I1, these teeth will be tightly forcedinto engagement with the flange, whereby further counterclockwiserotation of the flange I5, roller 2 and mop element I will be preventedand the mop element will be wiped or scraped across the surface to becleaned as the entire mop structure is moved in a rearward direction.

If it is now desired to wring the water or other cleaning fluid out ofthe mop element I, such operation is performed by manipulation of thewringer roller 32. Such roller is normally positioned as shown in Fig.2, being held out of engagement withmop element I as describedhereinbefore. and the wringer frame 24 being held in inoperativeposition by lug 2. 'In order to operate the wringer, the frame 24 isfirst detached from behind lug l2 by depressing the central portion ofcross member 21. The entire wringer frame with the wringer rollercarried thereby is now moved in a counterclockwise direction about thepins or shaft 6 until the ends of the periphery of the wringer rollerabut the edges of legs 3, 4, such position being clearly disclosed inFig. 3 of the drawings. Further counterclockwise movement of frame 24forces the wringer roller 32 against the legs 3, 4 whereby the pins 33on such roller will be moved in the slots 28 toward the recess 3| and.against the tension of the mop element exerted on the roller. Suflicientforce may be exerted on the frame 24 as described above to cause thepins 33 to be moved to the lower extremities of slots 28 and, by reasonof the radial tension exerted by the mop .element on the wringer roller,such pins will be forced into the recesses 3| at the extremities of theslots and maintained therein by the tension of the mop element exertedon the face of the wringer roller. The parts are so designed, asdescribed hereinbefore, that when the pins 33 are disposed within therecesses 3| the mop element, or a portion thereof, will be compressedbetween the wringer roller and the roller 2 within the mo'p element. Theparts are now in the position disclosed in Fig. 4 and, if the wringerroller frame is now moved in a clockwise direction while the mop frameis held from movement, the mop roller 2 and mop element will also bemoved in a clockwise direction about the pins 6. Such movement of themop roller and mop element is caused by the engagement between the moproller and wringer roller due to the fact that the mop element I istightly compressed between these two rollers, thereby acting inthemanner of a connection between the two-rollers. When such clockwisemovement is initiated, the clutch member I6 is moved slightly in aclockwise direction about the pin whereby the teeth 20 on the brakingmember l6 are removed from engagement with flange l5 sufiiciently topermit free rotation of the flange, mop roller and mop element in aclockwise direction with the wringer frame and wringer roller. 1

If the wringer frame and wringer roller are now moved in the reverse orcounterclockwise direction about the pins 6, it will be apparent thatthe teeth 20 on member It will engage the inner periphery of flange ISin the manner described hereinbefore, thereby preventingcounterclockwise rotation of the flange l5, mop roller 2' and mopelement l. The wringer frame and wringer roller carried thereby are, ofcourse, free to rotate in either direction, and a relative movement'istherefore caused between the mop roller and element and the wringerframe and roller, the mop roller and element remaining stationary whilethe wringer frame and roller move in a counterclockwise direction. Itwill be apparent that as the wringer roller is moved in acounterclockwise direction over the stationary mop roller and mopelement, successive portions of the mop element will be compressedbetween the mop roller and the wringer roller, thereby squeezing thewater out of the mop element. 70

It will also be apparent that a reciprocating movement of the wringerframe will successivecontlnued until the entire mop element has beenfreed from water.

When the wringing operation is completed the wringer frame may be movedto the position shown in'Fig. 5, wherein the arms 3, 4 of the mop frameabut the ends of the periphery of the wringer roller. Further movementof the wringer frame will cause the arms 3, 4 to force the pins 33 outof recesses 3| and into the other ends of slots 28 to the position shownin Fig. 2, the wringer frame being maintained in such position byengagement of the cross member 21 behind the lug l2.

While I have described and illustrated certain embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that further modifications andimprovements are contemplated and may be practiced without departing inany way from the spirit of the invention, for the limits of whichreference must be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mop comprising a U-shaped frame, a mop roller journalled in theopen end of said frame and having an outer surface of mop material, asecond U-shaped fram journalled at its open end to said mop roller formovement around the. periphery thereof, said second frame having alignedslots in the side members thereof and extending toward said mop roller,and a wringer roller journalled in said slots and movable therein from aposition removed from said mop roller to a position in engagement withsaid mop roller for wringing said mop roller.

2. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journalled in said frame, asecond frame pivotally mounted with respect to said mop roller andjournalled in said frame and having a surface of resilient material, asecond frame journalled to said mop roller and having therein alignedslots extending toward said mop roller and communicating laterallyextending locking recesses at the ends of said slots which are towardthe mop roller, a wringer roller journalled in said slots and movabletoward said mop roller and adapted to be locked in wringing position insaid recesses by said mop roller, whereby the mop may be wrung uponrelative rotation between the second frame and the mop roller.

4. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journalled in said frame andhaving a surface of resilient material, a second frame pivotally mountedwith respect to said mop roller /and movable about the periphery thereofand having therein aligned slots extending toward said mop roller, andcommunicating laterally extending locking recesses at the ends of saidslots which are toward the mop roller, a wringer roller journalled insaid slots and movable toward said mop roller and adapted to be lockedin wringing position in said recesses by the material on said mopfoller, and means for holding said mop roller from rotation in onedirection whereby relative wringing movement of said wringer roller andmop roller may be efiected.

5. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journalled in said frame, asecond frame journalled to said mop roller for movement around theperiphery thereof and having aligned slots therein extending toward saidmop roller, a wringer roller journalledin said slots and movable thereintoward and away from said mop roller, and means for locking said wringerroller in said slots in engagement; with said mop roller.

6. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journaled in said frame andhaving resilient mop material on the surface thereof, a second framejournaled to said mop roller and having side arms in which are formedaligned slots extending toward said mop roller and having recessescommunicating with said slots at the ends of said slots adjacent saidmop roller and extending latorally of said slots, :1 wringer rollerjournaled in said slots and movable therein toward and away from saidmop roller, the peripheral portions of the ends of said wringer rolleroverlapping and abutting portions of said first-named frame, saidresilient mop material and said wringer roller cooperating to maintainsaid wringer roller in said recesses when said wringer roller is inwringing position.

'7. A mop comprising a U-shaped frame, a mop roller journalled in theopen end of said frame and having an outer face of mop material, asecond U-shaped frame journalled at its open end to said mop roller formovement about the face thereof, a wringer roller so carried by saidsecond frame as to be movable in said frame from a position removed fromsaid mop material to a position in wringing relation to said mopmaterial, and means for preventing rotation of said mop roller in onedirection when said wringer roller is engaged with said mop material andis rotated about the periphery thereof.

8. A mop comprising a frame, a. mop roller journalled in said frame andhaving an outer face of mop material, a second frame journalled to saidmop roller for rotation about the periphery thereof, a wringer roller somounted in said second frame as to be movable therein from a positionremoved from said mop material to a.

wringing position in engagement with said mop material. means forlocking said wringer roller in wringing position, and means for holdingsaid mop roller from rotation in one direction when said second frameand wringer roller are moved about the periphery of said mop roller.

9. A mop comprising a U-shaped frame, a mop roller journaled in the openend of said frame and having a cylindrical layer ofmop material on thesurface thereof, a second U- shaped frame member having said armsjournaled to the ends of said mop roller, said side arms being providedwith aligned slots extending toward said mop roller and having alignedrecesses at the ends thereof toward said mop roller and which extendlaterally of said slots, a wringer roller journaled in said slots andmovable therein toward and away from said mop roller, said mop materialand said wringer roller cooperating to maintain said wringer roller insaid recesses when said wringer roller is in wringing position.

JOSEPH D. BATES.

